Smith settling in with Polaris World

After his first few hours of training with new team Polaris World, England's promising teenage starlet Bradley Smith spoke to motogp.com from the paddock on day two of the 250cc and 125cc test at Jerez.

After his first few hours of training with new team Polaris World, England's promising teenage starlet Bradley Smith spoke to motogp.com from the paddock on day two of the 250cc and 125cc test at Jerez, where Tuesday's action has been hampered by rain and wind at the southern Spanish track.

Monday saw the Oxfordshire rider put in 56 laps and record a respectable best time of 1'48.730s on his new Aprilia RSA - as he makes the switch from Honda to Italian machinery in preparation for the 2008 season. Indeed as the fourth fastest of the single cylinder riders on track yesterday his time was a second quicker than his best lap in the Grand Prix visit to Jerez at the start of this year.
"Obviously everything is new and you have to start from scratch, with the bike and with the team," explained Smith. "It is a big change but yesterday we did quite well. Today's been a shame because we can't continue that progression due to the weather, but tomorrow hopefully we'll carry on and make some more progress."
When asked if he was encountering any problems in the early stages with a new team Smith responded: "No, not at all because everyone is giving 100% and that's nice but at the same time things are different, because with my old team I had been there for such a long time. However, they're doing the best possible job here and of course that makes me feel welcome."
Indeed, Smith is feeling motivated by the move and stated: "Everything is different, different view, different bike, but to be working with this bike is a pleasure for me because it has more power. We still have a long way to go before I can make it feel like my bike, but it has more power than the Honda. We have to wait and see how it goes."
On changes to his riding style required for the official Aprilia, the English youngster said: "It was different because the position on the bike and the geometry is completely different to Honda. I'll try to adapt to the bike to make it feel like the Honda, but as I said we have to keep on working and I think yesterday we found the way to do it."
With regard to his goals for 2008, Smith concluded: "Last year I was making progress, so now I'll try to continue improving. Obviously, I have a better bike and some riders have moved up to 250cc. Realistically at this moment I have to say top five, but that is not my only aim. I want to win races, get podiums and be as close as I can to the front. Now I have the same bike as them, the front runners are my target."